Awning vertical column connector



July 7, 1959 H. G. ERNEMAN 2,893,077

' AWNING VERTICAL COLUMN CONNECTOR Filed July 31. 1958 J INVENTOR.

2a 4 4 5 BY HANS a ERNEMAN awk ATTORNEYS United States Patent AWNING VERTICAL COLUMN CONNECTOR Hans G. Erneman, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Lite Vent Industries, Inc., Detroit, Mich.

Application July 31, 1958, Serial No. 752,344

4 Claims. (Cl. 20-95) This invention relates to an awning column connector and more particularly to a connector formed for connection of the corner formed by two awning horizontal rafters to a plurality of vertical support columns.

In certain types of metallic awning constructions, it is common to use horizontal rafters formed into a frame connected to the support wall and supporting the sloping roof of the awning. Frequently, for porches and the like, the free or outside ends of the frame is supported upon columns which extend down to the ground. It is important that the columns be rigidly connected to the corner formed by the rafters and that the corner itself is rigidified in order to absorb the heavy loads, such as snow loads, wind pressure, etc., to which awnings are frequently subjected.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to form a single, unitary, column connector arranged to connect the tops of three vertical columns to each other, so as to fix the columns relative to one another, to simultaneously connect the columns to the awning horizontal rafters, and additionally, to rigidity and strengthen the corner formed by the joined horizontal rafters.

Another object of this invention is to form a comer connector which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to install and use, and extremely rigid and strong.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description of which the attached drawings form a part. With reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the connector and shows a portion of the awning corner and vertical columns in phantom lines to show the complete assembly.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom of the connector looking up in the direction of arrow 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 4-4 of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1, a fragmentary view of an awning, generally designated as 10, is shown. The awning is formed of horizontal rafters 11 and 12, with 11 being the front horizontal rafter and 12 being the side rafter that is connected to the supporting wall. The two rafters join at a substantially right angle corner. The awning roof 13 is connected to the front rafter 11 and extends upwards towards the wall surface to which the awning is connected.

To support the corner of the awning, three corner columns 14, 15, and 16 are provided. The three columns may be made of tubular metal. Being separated somewhat and parallel to one another and because they are arranged to form a V formation between the three of 2,893,077 Patented July 7, 1959 them, they provide the strength and rigidity of a single heavy column.

The corner connector 20 connects the top ends of the vertical columns and hold the columns in spaced relationship. It also connects the columns to the rafters and rigidifies the rafter corner joint.

The connector 20 (see Fig. 2) is formed in an A-shape with legs 21 and a cross bar 22. A socket 23 is formed at the vertex of the A and sockets 24 are formed at the ends of the legs of the A. Each of the sockets are provided with suitable openings 25 transverse to the plane of the A and shaped to receive snugly the tops of the columns which in the drawings are illustrated as being square in cross-section.

The cross-bar 22 is provided with end extensions 28 which extend beyond the legs 21 of the A. These extensions are provided with openings 29 so that bolts or screws or the like may be inserted therethrough and connected directly to the rafters 11 and 12.

The A-shape is rigidified and the leg sockets are also further connected to the vertex socket by means of a rib 30 which extends the full length of the legs 21, the cross bar 22 and the extensions 28.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the ribs are deeper on the cross bar part between the two legs to strengthen the connector and absorb all loads.

In this construction, the weight of the awnings, which is first applied to extensions 28, is transmitted to the three sockets and three columns in substantially equal amounts so that each column carries one-third of the applied load.

This invention may be further developed within the scope of the following attached claims. Accordingly, it is desired that the foregoing description be read as being merely illustrative of an operative embodiment of the same and not in a strictly limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A column connector formed in the shape of an A and made of a rigid metallic material, the vertex of the A and the free ends of the two legs thereof being formed with sockets arranged substantially normal to the plane of the A, whereby a column end may be secured within each socket, the cross bar of the A being extended a predetermined distance beyond each of the two legs, wherein the free ends of said extended cross bar may each be connected to one of two frame members meeting at a substantially right angle.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1 and wherein one face of the A is provided with a rib, which is integral with, normal to, and extends the length of the legs and the cross bar, the rib being centrally located between the side edges of the legs and the cross bar.

3. In an awning construction comprising a pair of rafters meeting at a substantially right angle corner and three vertical columns arranged to support such corner, the improvement consisting of a horizontally arranged A- shaped connector, formed with a vertically directed socket at the vertex and free ends of the legs thereof, the sockets each being formed to receive the ends of one of the columns; the cross bar of the A being extended be yond each of the legs and the extended ends thereof each being formed for connection to one of the rafters.

4. A construction as defined in claim 3, and the bottom face of the A being provided with a rib integral with and extending along the length of the legs and the cross bar. 1

No references cited. 

